The privilege of life-changing work
Fr. Allan Ggita is a Jesuit priest serving as the Director of Development for the Jesuits of Eastern Africa Province (EAP). He’s in Ireland at the invitation of Irish Jesuits International », speaking to Jesuit students and colleagues about his work supporting vulnerable communities in South Sudan, Ethiopia, and Kenya.
In this interview with Pat Coyle of Irish Jesuit Communications, he talks about bringing development, sustainability, and the Jesuits themselves into one of the largest urban slums in Nairobi, Kenya. He says it is a privilege to work with and learn from the community there.
He also explains the various projects Jesuits and colleagues have set up in collaboration with local communities, such as the Red Chair Campaign and GLOW: Girls Learning Their Own Worth. The latter not only encourages young girls to attend school but also empowers them to value themselves (by making their own reusable sanitary towels) and develop various self-sustaining skills (by selling their home-produced sanitary towels to a wider market).
‘Upendo’ is a Swahili word and the title of a project set up by the now Director of IJI, John Guiney SJ. Fr Allan explains the full meaning of the word and outlines how the Upendo scheme involves supporting vulnerable children (many of whom have been orphaned because of AIDS) with education, counselling and a school meal – often the only meal they will have in the day.
He also discusses the impact of USAID’s withdrawal on many valuable schemes across Africa and asks people to support Irish Jesuits International, which, in turn, is helping him and his colleagues develop life-changing projects for people on the margins. Listen to the full interview above.
